Plans For A London Of Boulevards

8 July 2003 - 5:00am

London's mayor plans to transforming 100 open spaces in the city into pedestrian-friendly thoroughfares to create a European-style city of boulevards.

"Last week the mayor and the architect Lord Foster unveiled a remodelled Trafalgar Square. Vehicles have been shut out of the north side in front of the National Gallery in favour of pedestrians and a cafe. The aim, says Livingstone, is to make the area 'like the great piazzas in Italy'. The Trafalgar Square scheme follows the introduction of the congestion charge, which has cut traffic in central London by an estimated 16%... The proposals by Farrell, best known for giant edifices such as the MI6 headquarters and Charing Cross station, are among the most ambitious. The three-mile Nash Ramblas would start in Primrose Hill, north London. It would run through a remodelled London zoo, incorporating a new square. From there, it would go through Regent’s Park, Portland Place and Regent Street before crossing Trafalgar Square and the Thames to the South Bank arts centre."

Source: The Times, October 12, 2005
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